Luxury Travel in Peru with Belmond: Lima, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
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Our Advisor Notebook series takes you behind the scenes of the world’s finest travel experiences — straight from the people who know them best. We recently sat down with Erika Toro, Director of Sales for Belmond Hotels in Peru, for an insider’s guide to one of South America’s most extraordinary luxury journeys. This is Part 1 of a two-part series covering Belmond’s full Peru collection. Part 2 covers the Andean Explorer, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, and Las Casitas del Colca.
Peru Is More Than Machu Picchu — And Belmond Knows It
Ask most travelers what they know about Peru and the answer is almost always the same: Machu Picchu. And Machu Picchu is extraordinary — one of the great wonders of the world. But it is also, as Erika Toro was quick to point out, is only the beginning of what Peru has to offer.
“Peru is not only Machu Picchu,” Erika told us. “There is so much more — and Peru is working hard to make those other destinations known.”
Belmond has built its Peru collection around exactly that philosophy. With eight properties in the country, two iconic trains, and a sleeper train that winds through some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth, Belmond has created an infrastructure for experiencing Peru at its fullest — from the culinary capital of Lima to the sacred highlands of Cusco, from the turquoise shores of Lake Titicaca to the depths of Colca Canyon. For luxury travelers who think they know Peru, Belmond’s collection has a way of redefining the entire trip.
This post covers the first half of that journey: Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco. For the second half — the Andean Explorer, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, and Las Casitas del Colca — read Part 2.
Getting to Lima: Easier Than You Think
One of the most common misconceptions about Peru is that it is difficult to reach. In reality, Lima is one of South America’s most accessible capitals for U.S. travelers. Nonstop flights from New York’s JFK arrive in Lima in under eight hours — comparable to a transatlantic crossing, but without the jet lag of European time zones. Lima operates in the Eastern time zone for most of the year, meaning travelers from the East Coast barely feel the time difference. Connections are also available from Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, and Miami, making Lima reachable from virtually every major U.S. hub.
For luxury travelers who have been putting Peru off, the logistics are no longer the obstacle they once were.
Belmond Miraflores Park, Lima: The City Has Changed
Lima used to be a connection point — the city you passed through on your way to Machu Picchu. That is no longer the case, and Belmond Miraflores Park is a significant reason why. Located in Miraflores, Lima’s most sophisticated neighborhood, the hotel sits one block from a major avenue on a quiet, traffic-free street overlooking a park — with panoramic ocean views beyond. “It’s like a little island,” Erika told us, “super close and walking distance from many places, but completely removed from the noise.” The hotel is currently undergoing a facade renovation, with the updated exterior expected to be complete by the end of the year. The result will further cement its place among the finest luxury hotels in Lima — blending seamlessly into the residential character of the Malecon while signaling the elevated experience within.
The Signature Suites
For travelers seeking the ultimate Lima experience, the hotel’s two Signature Suites represent something genuinely rare: private open terraces with plunge pools, overlooking the Pacific. Butler service is included, and the general manager personally contacts arriving guests in advance — asking whether they prefer champagne or wine on arrival, and ensuring every detail of the welcome is personalized.
Dining: Lima’s Food Scene Is the Point
Lima has become one of the world’s great culinary destinations — and for good reason. The city currently claims five restaurants in the global top 50, and eight in the Latin American top 50. The competition for tables at the best restaurants is intense, and Erika’s advice is direct: “Book the best restaurants as soon as you have your reservation — otherwise you will be super frustrated not to get the best.”
Within the hotel, Tragaluz blends the art of Peruvian painter Matteo Levana with Peruvian-Mediterranean cuisine — one of Lima’s trending restaurants, regularly hosting collaborations with LVMH brands and guest chefs. The Observatory on the top floor serves breakfast with sweeping views and can be arranged for private dinners. The Velo Bar rounds out the in-house offering for lighter meals and cocktails.
Beyond the hotel, the neighborhood delivers. Barranco — Lima’s artsy, bohemian district — is a short walk away, lined with boutique galleries, street sculptures, and small local stores. The La Comar shopping center, two blocks from the hotel, offers both international brands and Peruvian artisans, including alpaca goods and silver work. The hotel also houses a dedicated store from De la Torre, a well-regarded Peruvian brand specializing in handicrafts, art, and home goods.
Beyond Dining: What to Do in Lima
Lima rewards exploration well beyond its restaurants. The Museo Larco is one of the most important archaeological museums in South America — a manageable, genuinely fascinating collection housed in a beautiful colonial building. Cooking classes and market tours are available for food-focused travelers. And the beaches below Miraflores offer surf lessons, paddleboarding, and yoga — a surprising coastal dimension that many first-time visitors don’t anticipate.
The Sacred Valley: Belmond Rio Sagrado
From Lima, the journey continues to Cusco — but the smartest way to begin the highland portion of a Peru itinerary is not in the city itself. It is in the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley sits at approximately 8,000 feet above sea level — significantly lower than Cusco at 11,000 feet. Beginning in the valley allows travelers to acclimatize gradually, which makes an enormous difference to the quality of the experience in the days that follow.
Belmond Rio Sagrado sits on the banks of the Urubamba River, surrounded by mountains and the natural landscape of the valley. With just 21 rooms and two villas, it is an intimate property — and intentionally so. “Once you go there, you feel the natural,” Erika told us. “You start to disconnect from the city and connect with this place.” The two villas deserve particular attention for families and groups. Each features three bedrooms, a dining room, a living room, and a kitchenette — making them genuinely self-contained retreats within the property.
Wellness in the Valley
The spa at Rio Sagrado uses exclusively local ingredients — herbs, minerals, and botanicals sourced from the Andes and the surrounding mountains. Wellness programming ranges from active options like trekking and walking to more contemplative experiences: yoga sessions that begin with a ceremonial acknowledgment of Pachamama — Mother Earth — led by a shaman, and afternoon ceremonies that deepen the connection to the landscape and its traditions.
Luxury Travel Peru, Activities and Archaeology
The Sacred Valley is one of the most archaeologically rich regions in the world. The Moray agricultural terraces and the Maras salt mines are among the most visited sites — both within easy reach by car, bicycle, ATV, or horseback. Baby alpacas can be fed in the hotel gardens — a highlight for families and, frankly, for everyone.
The Hiram Bingham: The Most Iconic Train in South America
The journey from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu is made aboard the Hiram Bingham — Belmond’s legendary luxury train, and one of the great rail journeys in the world.
The Hiram Bingham departs from Urubamba station, adjacent to the hotel, for most of the year. During the green season — January through April — it departs exclusively from Rio Sagrado itself, directly from the hotel grounds. “It’s very exclusive for our guests,” Erika explained. “From your room, the train is just there.”
Up or Back: A Question Worth Asking
“If I have to choose because of the experience, I prefer coming back,” Erika told us. “When you are going to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome, Machu Picchu is the wow. Then you come back and continue with this wow experience on the Hiram Bingham.”
The logic is compelling. Taking the more economical Vistadome on the way up means arriving at Machu Picchu with full energy and excitement for the site itself. The return journey on the Hiram Bingham — which becomes a celebration, with dinner, open bar, and live musicians — extends the magic of the day rather than front-loading it. Taking the Hiram Bingham in both directions is also an option, and when the cost of the Vistadome, entrance fees, and buses is factored in, the price difference narrows considerably.
Machu Picchu: The Sanctuary Lodge Advantage
Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel at Machu Picchu itself — located directly at the entrance to the
citadel, while every other property in the area sits twenty minutes below in Aguas Calientes. This is not a small distinction. It is the difference between beginning your morning at the citadel and spending it in a bus queue.
“Our concierge takes you to the bus,” Erika explained, “and you go up just with your group — no queue with the rest of the tourists.” At the top, the advantage continues: Hiram Bingham guests bypass the general queues entirely, moving directly into the citadel while other visitors wait.
An Important Note on Sanctuary Lodge
Sanctuary Lodge has been operating under an ongoing licensing negotiation with the Peruvian government for approximately a year. As of this writing, the lodge continues to operate normally — but the situation remains fluid. Our recommendation: book Sanctuary Lodge, but also hold a backup reservation at one of the excellent properties in Aguas Calientes below. Travel insurance with trip interruption coverage is essential for any Machu Picchu itinerary.
Luxury Hotels in Cusco: Monasterio or Palacio Nazarenas?
After Machu Picchu, the journey continues to Cusco — and here, Belmond offers two exceptional properties that serve different travelers in meaningful ways.
Belmond Hotel Monasterio
A former 16th-century monastery, Monasterio feels like living inside a museum — colonial architecture, religious art, and centuries of history woven into every corridor. The signature dining experience is the Opera Dinner at El Tupay with chef Jorge Muñoz, one of South America’s fifty best chefs. Oxygenated rooms are available in specific categories and must be booked in advance.
Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
The more contemporary choice — an all-suite property where every suite is fully oxygenated, with an in-room bar stocked with pisco, rum, and whiskey, all included. The property has the only plunge pool in Cusco and a spa with five treatment rooms. Dining is led by Pia León — awarded best female chef in the world in 2022 and co-founder of Central, consistently ranked among the world’s top five restaurants.
For families, Erika recommends Palacio Nazarenas — larger rooms, connecting options, the plunge pool, and the full spa make it the more practical choice. For travelers who want to feel history in every stone, Monasterio is irreplaceable. Many travelers do both.
Practical Details Every Traveler Should Know
Altitude is real — plan for it. Cusco sits at 11,000 feet. At least one full day of acclimatization is recommended — drink plenty of water, move slowly, and rest. Coca tea is a traditional and effective remedy. Diamox should be started three days before arrival and discussed with a physician in advance.
Oxygen rooms should be requested early. At Monasterio, oxygenated rooms are available in specific categories and must be booked in advance. At Palacio Nazarenas, all suites are oxygenated.
Book Lima restaurants immediately. The best restaurants in Lima fill weeks or months in advance. The restaurant reservation and the flight booking should happen at the same time.
The green season has its advantages. January through April brings more rainfall but also the exclusive Hiram Bingham departure from Rio Sagrado itself — a genuinely special experience only available during this period.
A minimum of ten nights is recommended. A suggested framework: two nights in Lima, two nights in the Sacred Valley, three nights in Cusco, with Machu Picchu as a day excursion.
The Elli Travel Group Advantage
Peru is one of the world’s truly great luxury journeys — and the Belmond collection is the finest way to experience it. As a Belmond Bellini Club partner, Elli Travel Group travelers receive exclusive amenities across every Belmond property in Peru, including daily breakfast for two, a $90 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, and priority consideration for upgrades — all at no additional cost over the hotel’s direct rate.
Our team knows this collection from the inside — the train decisions, the altitude sequencing, the property comparisons, and the Sanctuary Lodge situation as it continues to evolve. We handle every detail so that when you land in Lima, all you have to do is look up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need for Lima, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu?
A minimum of seven to eight nights covers this portion of the journey comfortably — two nights in Lima, two in the Sacred Valley, one at Sanctuary Lodge, and two to three in Cusco. Ten nights is ideal if combining with the Andean Explorer itinerary in Part 2.
Is altitude sickness a serious concern in Peru?
It is a real consideration, particularly in Cusco at 11,000 feet and on the Andean Explorer’s highest passes. The best mitigation is proper sequencing — starting in Lima, moving to the Sacred Valley, then Cusco — combined with hydration and rest. Belmond’s properties in Cusco offer oxygenated rooms, and a doctor is always on call.
What is the best time of year to visit Machu Picchu?
The dry season — May through October — offers the clearest skies and most reliable conditions. The green season — January through April — brings more rain but fewer crowds and lush landscapes. Both have genuine advantages depending on priorities.
Should I take the Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu or back?
Erika’s recommendation is to take the Vistadome on the way up and the Hiram Bingham on the return, when the celebration dinner, open bar, and live musicians extend the magic of the day. Both directions is also an option — and when all costs are factored in, the price difference narrows considerably.
What perks do I get booking Belmond Peru through Elli Travel Group?
As a Belmond Bellini Club partner, Elli Travel Group travelers receive daily breakfast for two, a $90 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, and priority consideration for upgrades — all at no additional cost over the hotel’s direct rate.
Why should I use a luxury travel advisor for Peru?
Peru’s Belmond collection involves multiple properties, two trains, altitude considerations, and logistical decisions that genuinely benefit from expert guidance. There is no additional cost to working with Elli Travel Group, and the perks are meaningful.
Peru is extraordinary. Let’s make sure you experience all of it. Reach out to our team and let’s get started.
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